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New Zealand won the series over South Africa in Women’s ODI on the strength of Maddy Green’s unbeaten century.

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new zealand women Scripted a memorable innings to seal a stunning 66-run win at the Basin Reserve in Wellington south african women In the third and last ODI. What made this win really special wasn’t just the margin, but the dramatic start to the match – starting with early disaster and ending with complete dominance.

Maddy Green’s century defines New Zealand’s innings

After being invited to bat first, the home team got off to a bad start. Within a few overs, they were in deep trouble at 3 for 3. Experienced names like Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer and captain Amelia Kerr were out cheaply, leaving the team shaken. South Africa’s bowlers, particularly Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune, exploited the early conditions brilliantly, swinging the ball and maintaining strong lines.

At that time it looked as if New Zealand might struggle to even reach a competitive score. But cricket often rewards patience and partnerships – and that’s exactly what happened. Maddie Green and Brooke Holliday came together and completely changed the narrative of the game.

Both displayed amazing patience under pressure. Instead of panicking, he focused on recreating the innings brick by brick. As the overs increased, his confidence increased. Green in particular played a brilliant innings and remained unbeaten on 141 off 128 balls. His innings was a perfect blend of control and aggression, he hit boundaries with ease while keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Halliday, on the other hand, played the role of an ideal partner and contributed 98 consecutive runs. He effectively rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries, ensuring that the pressure was back on South Africa. Together they made a big partnership of 211 runs for the fourth wicket and turned a serious situation into a strong one.

By the time Halliday was out, New Zealand had gained complete control. The lower order scored useful runs, including a quick cameo from Nancy Patel, which helped the team post a strong total of 306 runs for 7 wickets. Considering his early collapse, this was an extraordinary recovery and testament to his resilience.

Also read: Australia beats West Indies in women’s ODI series thanks to brilliant performances from Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield

Despite bright moments, South Africa fell short of the target

Chasing a target of 307 always requires a solid start, and South Africa Women showed early promise. Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front and played a brilliant inning of 69 runs and took the innings forward with brilliant strokes. She looked in control and gave her team hope of achieving the challenging target.

Supporting him, Anne Dirksen added a vital 47 runs. The pair kept South Africa in the game during the middle overs, setting a platform that hinted at a possible upset. However, just when things seemed to be settling, New Zealand hit back.

The turning point came with the introduction of Rosemary Mair, who bowled brilliantly. He took five important wickets, broke partnerships at crucial moments and halted South Africa’s progress. His ability to strike under pressure proved decisive in tilting the match in New Zealand’s favour.

As wickets started falling, the required run rate started increasing rapidly. The middle and lower order struggled to maintain the pace, with only brief resistance from players such as Chloe Tryon, who scored a quickfire 29. Despite his efforts, the pursuit gradually became out of reach.

New Zealand’s bowlers maintained discipline throughout, with Amelia Kerr taking two wickets and others cooperating effectively. Their relentless pressure ensured that South Africa would never fully recover after losing crucial wickets.

Ultimately, South Africa was out for 240 runs in 46.1 overs.Left 66 runs short of the target. Although there were moments of promise, the lack of sustained partnership and inability to handle pressure proved costly.

Also read: Kashvi Gautam has been included in the squad for the first time as India announces its women’s T20 squad for the South Africa tour.

This article was first published here WomenCricket.comA Cricket Times Company.

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